Charles William Worrill, 1949-1953

CHARLES WILLIAM WORRILL served on the Court of Appeals 1949-1953 and on the Supreme Court 1953-1954, when he retired and was appointed Justice Emeritus for life. He was born on February 8, 1887, in Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia, and died in Mathews, Virginia, on October 14, 1972.

He graduated from Bethel Military College of Cuthbert in 1902; attended United States calvary and army schools and was a rider at Fort Yuma, Arizona; was a Texas and a California Ranger and a deputy marshal. He received his law degree from Mercer University in 1909 and began the practice of law in Cuthbert, Georgia, the same year.

He married Adelin J. Helms of Cuthbert on November 6,1915, and they had one daughter, Adelin W. Hammack. For names and details of his grandchildren and other family history and his achievements, see the memorial dated June 13, 1973, in 229 Georgia Reports, pages XXXI-LVIII. He is the son of the famous William C. Worrill, whose memorial is in 190 Georgia Reports 897 and who was a Judge of the Pataula Judicial Circuit.

He was City Attorney of Cuthbert; County Attorney of Randolph County; elected Judge of Pataula Judicial Circuit; Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia; a baseball player and umpire.

"He was a strict, very effective jurist, and became very popular for his stern observance of judicial dignity and efficiency. 'This court costs a dollar every minute,' he said over and over again, and the depression-ridden taxpayer loved him for it." It was said he was a "legend in his own time. ..all over the state we called him 'Judge Two-Gun Charlie Worrill.' "This was in reference to the story that he presided in court with two pistols on the Bench. At one time he issued an injunction restraining the National Labor Relations Board from setting foot in Randolph County. Very respectfully inquiry was made as to his authority, and he replied: "Tell your superiors to violate the restraining order, just a little, and we will soon find out by what authority a State Court Judge can do so." Another said he was "firm but compassionate... resolute in his views.. . considerate of the views of others." He believed, "What this country needs to do is to get back to the old Biblical law, the old Biblical law that God gave Moses on Mount Sinai." He was "warm, unselfish, thoughtful and tender-hearted."